Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting Jazz Podcast

This week's episode is about alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley It features music from his early days, his time playing with Miles Davis, and from his albums as a bandleader. Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected]

This week's episode is about west coast jazz drummer Chico Hamilton.  It features music from the first two decades of his career. Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected]

Omnivore Recordings has released Metaphysics, a recently uncovered album by pianist Hasaan Ibn Ali, and it is amazing! This episode talks a bit about the legendary Hasaan, and plays some excerpts from the new album and a track from the other album he appears on, Max Roach Trio Featuring the Legendary Hasaan.  Next week's episode will be about Chico Hamilton, one of the finest drummers in the 50s/60s west coast jazz scene.  Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected] Spotify playlists for previous episodes: Modern Jazz Quartet Bud Powell

This week's episode is about the music of Donald Byrd, a trumpeter in the peak of the hard bop movement in jazz.  It features music from his own albums as a leader and as a sideman with artists as diverse as Kenny Drew, Herbie Hancock, and Eric Dolphy. Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me at [email protected] Playlist here Previous episode playlists on Spotify: Kenny Drew Art Blakey

An episode about trumpeter Donald Byrd will be available next week.  In the meantime, enjoy a fantastic track that shows off his avant garde jazz bona fides.   Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me at [email protected]

This week's episode is about the virtuoso bassist Scott LaFaro.  LaFaro lived a brief life, but managed to record some incredible music in his short time on this world.  It features music from his early years, his legendary time in Bill Evans' trio, and some of his more avant-garde endeavors. Questions? Comments? Requests?  E-mail me at [email protected]

It's been a busy week, so I haven't had time to finish the episode about virtuoso bassist Scott LaFaro that I'm working on.  It will be ready for next week, so in the meantime, enjoy a few tracks that LaFaro appears on.  

This week's episode is about Benny Golson, a tenor saxophonist who was also a prolific composer and arranger. It features mostly songs he composed, performed by groups he led and by other top notch jazz outfits. Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me at [email protected] or find me on twitter

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting returns with an episode about superstar trumpeter Chet Baker.  Baker rose to fame in the 1950's as the prince of cool jazz, and recorded some truly beautiful music.  The episode covers his early recordings with Gerry Mulligan's quartet, his early recordings as a bandleader, and some from later in his career, post-comeback.  Enjoy! Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected] or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz I'll be trying to get back to episodes every week, so if you like the show, spread the word! 

I'm working on an episode about trumpeter Chet Baker, and noticed that it's focused mostly on his ballad playing.  So, while I finish that, I thought you'd enjoy hearing some tracks that showcase his singing and faster playing.  Enjoy these couple songs, and tune in next week for a full episode about Baker's music

This week's episode is about the guitarist Wes Montgomery, a self-taught virtuoso who developed a unique, all thumb approach to the instrument.  I hadn't given Montgomery much of a chance after initially being turned off after hearing some of his later work, so I would like to thank the listeners who requested this episode for getting me to give his music another chance and helping me to discover the wonderful music he made.   Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me at [email protected] or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz

This week's episode is about the music of Curtis Fuller, a phenomenal trombonist who was one of the earliest in the hard bop idiom of jazz.  It features music from his time playing with John Coltrane, the Jazz Messengers, and others, as well as from his own albums as a leader.   Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me: [email protected] or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz  

This week's episode is about pianist Bobby Timmons.  Timmons' style is sharp, danceable, catchy, and soulful.  He spent time playing in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers before striking out to make a string of fantastic albums as a leader.   It features music from his time as a Messenger and more from his time as a leader.   Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me at [email protected] Announcement: I'll be moving this weekend, so will probably be taking a few weeks off from making the podcast, but will be back soon.  Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is about the amazing, underrated trumpeter Kenny Dorham, and features music from throughout his career.  Great mostly straight-ahead jazz!  Quetions? Comments? Requests? Email me: [email protected]

This week's episode is about the music of bassist Richard Davis.  Davis came up in the Chicago jazz scene, and studied classical music intensively, and went on to play on some of the most interesting, progressive albums of the post bebop era in the 1960's.  it features phenomenal performances from his time playing with Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard and others. Questions? Comments? Request?  email me at [email protected] 

This week's episode is about the music of drummer Elvin Jones, best known for his time playing with John Coltrane, during the tenor saxophonist's transition into the most prominent figure in the music's avant garde. It features music by Coltrane's Quartet, and from groups that Jones led and participated in before and after his time with Trane Questions? Comments? Request?  email me at [email protected]

I took the last few weeks off to deal with some family stuff. I should be back to a regular schedule beginning next week with an episode about drummer Elvin Jones.  In the meantime, enjoy a preview: Elvin Jones at the peak of his powers with John Coltrane's quartet

Last Saturday, August 29th was the 100 year anniversary of the great Charlie Yardbird Parker's birth, and this happens to be the 100th episode of Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting! Join me to celebrate both with an hour of Bird's music! Questions? Comments? Requests? E-Mail me: [email protected]

This week's episode is about bassist Jimmy Garrison.  It features music from his early days playing in some fantastic hard bop groups like those of Kenny Dorham, Ted Curson, and Jackie McLean, a track from his time in John Coltrane's Classic Quartet, and some exciting free jazz oriented tracks from later in his career.  Enjoy! Questions? Comments? Requests?  [email protected] or find me on twitter @wednesday_jazz

This week's episode is about the music of bassist Charlie Haden, and features music from the very beginning of his career playing with Paul Bley and Ornette Coleman to the last recordings he made with his own Liberation Music Orchestra. Enjoy!  Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me: [email protected]

Next week's episode will be about the bassist Charlie Haden, who rose to fame in Ornette Coleman's group.  In preparation, this week features a selection from his album Liberation Music Orchestra.  Enjoy, and check in next week for a full episode about Haden. Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me: [email protected]

This week's episode is about the music of trumpeter Don Cherry.  Cherry is best known for his work alongside Ornette Coleman, pushing the boundaries of freedom in the jazz context.  The episode features music from his time in Ornette's band, some of his own work as a leader of some great free music, and a bit of his more world-music tinged offerings.   Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me at [email protected]

Next week's episode is going to be about trumpeter Don Cherry.  In anticipation of that, and to tie it to last week's episode about Henry Grimes, this episode showcases Cherry's Symphony for Improvisers, which also features Grimes (*and Pharoah Sanders on piccolo, which I left out in the VO... Oops!) .  Enjoy and check back next week for the full Don Cherry episode

This week's episode is about the bassist Henry Grimes.  Grimes was a Juliard-trained musician, who took an interest in free jazz in the 1960's, who disappeared from the music world for three and a half decades.  It features music from his early, conventional playing, from the peak of the free jazz movement, and music he made during his triumphant return in the 2000's.  Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected]

On April 15, bassist Henry Grimes passed away.  I will have a full episode about his life and music ready for next week.  In the meantime, enjoy some of his poetry and a track from Spirits Aloft, his live album with drummer Rashied Ali. Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me: [email protected]

This week's episode of WNPM is about drummer Jimmy Cobb, who passed away on May 24.  It features music from his early days in Earl Bostic's and Dinah Washington's groups to his work with the legendary sextet that recorded Miles Davis' Kind of Blue Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me at [email protected]

I had heard that John Coltrane's masterful composition Alabama was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr's eulogy for four young girls who were killed by explosives planted under the steps of their church by members of the KKK.  The nation's collective outrage at the murder of George Floyd by police got me thinking about Coltrane's work, and so I sought out Dr King's speech.  This episode presents both back to back, in an effort to make some small contribution towards filling the void left by the shocking -though sadly not surprising- murder, lest it be filled with bitterness, anger, and rage.  Enjoy. [email protected]

This week's episode is about the music of George Russell, a pianist and composer who was the first jazz musician to publish a book of the theory of jazz: The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization   Russell's theories, though presented somewhat esoterically, were incredibly influential in the development of modal jazz, and the music that he created in the late 50's and early 60s- the primary focus of this episode- is brilliant and beautiful. Playlist here: wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/george-russell-playlist/ Youtuber Bebop Review is currently putting together an incredibly thorough and engaging multi-part series on Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept... Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7dkmyVz-20 Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected]

This week's episode is about bassist Reggie Workman, who in the last year was named an NEA Jazz Master, and received a Guggenheim fellowship for music composition.  Workman has played with John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Archie Shepp, and many more, and this episode features music from throughout his career.   Playlist here:https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/reggie-workman-playlist-wednesday-night-prayer-meeting-jazz-podcast/ Questions? Comments? Requests? Email me at [email protected]

This week's episode is about the pianist and composer Herbie Nichols.  I first learned of Nichols' music in a book called Four Lives in the Bebop Business by A.B. Spellman, an incredible book that has sections on Nichols, Cecil Taylor, Jackie McLean, and Ornette Coleman.  Get a copy here: https://www.powells.com/book/-9780879100421 Playlist for the episode here: https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/herbie-nichols-playlist-wednesday-night-prayer-meeting-jazz-podcast/ Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail [email protected]  

I've had a busy week, and haven't had the time to complete the Herbie Nichols episode that I'm working on.  It will be ready for next Wednesday.  In the meantime, enjoy a track from Herbie's first album!

In light of the orders to stay at home and honor social distancing, I thought it would be appropriate to share come incredible unaccompanied solo performances, and to dwell a bit on the beauty that can be created all alone.  This episode features performances by Duke Ellington, Andrew Hill, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Sun Ra, and more.  Lots of piano pieces, but some cello, electric piano, trumpet, and trombone performances for variety.   Playlist here: https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/04/07/solo-jazz-wednesday-night-prayer-meeting-jazz-podcast-playlist/ Questions? Comments? Requests? Send email to [email protected], call the show's voicemail box at (424) 704-1666, or as of last week you can find me on twitter: @wednesday_jazz  

To make up for missing putting out an episode last week, I made an extra long episode this week about the incredible drummer Max Roach. Max Roach was at the forefront of jazz from the beginning his career in the 1940s to the end of his life, and played in a wide variety of styles.  This episode focuses mostly on his music in the late 50s and early 60s, with a little from before and after. Playlist here: https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/04/02/max-roach-wednesday-night-prayer-meeting-jazz-podcast-playlist/ Questions? Comments? Requests? send me an e-mail at [email protected] or call the show's voicemail box at (424) 704-1666 Also, I just set up a Twitter account for the show: @wednesday_jazz  

This week's episode is about the music of trumpeter and flugelhorn player Art Farmer.  At a time when nine out of ten trumpeters were trying to sound like Dizzy Gillespie or Miles Davis, Farmer blazed his own path, and developed a soft, thoughtful, beautifully melodic style with a keen sensitivity for dynamic and timbral range. Please forgive the fairly minimal commentary for this episode, I'm fighting a sore throat/cough and so kept things brief Playlist here: https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/03/18/art-farmer-wednesday-night-prayer-meeting-jazz-podcast-playlist/   Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected]

This week, drummer Roy Haynes turns 95 years old. To celebrate the occasion this episode is about his music.  Haynes career started in the middle 1940s and continues to this day.  This episode focuses mostly on his early work up until the 1960s. Playlist here: https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/03/11/happy-birthday-roy-haynes-wnpm-jazz-podcast-playlist/ Questions? Comments? Requests? email me at [email protected]

Brilliant pianist and last surviving member of John Coltrane's classic quartet, McCoy Tyner, passed away today at the age of 81.  On the occasion of this sad news, I wanted to share with you an incredibly beautiful and uplifting piece of music that McCoy created with the Coltrane Quartet.   

This week's episode is about the music of the incredible pianist and arranger Gil Evans.  Gil Evans bridged the divide between prewar big band music and post-war bebop, and is best known for his work with Miles Davis on Miles' incredible, beautiful, groundbreaking orchestral albums, widely known as the best make-out albums ever created.   Featuring songs from his work with Miles, his work arranging for other artists, and from his own albums as a bandleader.   Playlist here: https://wednesdaynightprayermeeting.wordpress.com/2020/03/04/gil-evans-playlist-wednesday-night-prayer-meeting-jazz-podcast/ Questions? Comments? Requests?  email me: [email protected]  

Because my schedule has been packed over the course of this last week, I haven't been able to finish putting together an episode about Gil Evans that I have been working on.  It will be ready next Wednesday, but in the meantime, I'd like to share one of Evans' tracks to get you thinking about his music.  Evans is one of the most successful arrangers of jazz music in the post-swing era, probably best known for the string of orchestral albums he worked with Miles Davis to create.  The song in this week's episode is from one of his albums as a bandleader.  Enjoy, and check back next week for the full episode about Gil Evans Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me at [email protected]

This week's episode of WNPM is about the music of Paul Chambers, an incredibly prolific bassist who recorded on hundreds of albums at the peak of modern jazz in the 50's and 60's, an incredible achievement considering that he only lived to the age of 33. It features songs from his work with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Bud Powell, and many more.    Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me at [email protected]

This week's episode is about pianist Elmo Hope, a lesser known friend and contemporary of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. Questions, Comments, Requests? Email me at [email protected]

This week's episode is about the music of Dr. Art Davis, a phenomenal bassist who straddled the line between jazz and classical music, whose frequent, innovative use of the bow on the instrument puts him in a class all his own.  It focuses mostly on his early career, including music he recorded with John Coltrane's group and with Booker Little and Max Roach's group Questions? Comments? Requests? Send them to [email protected] or call the show's voicemail box at (424) 704-1666 Apologies in advance for the state of my voice, I have been a little under the weather this past week.

This week's pod is a callback to the early days of this podcast, when I would alternate between regular episodes of the show and episodes about avant garde jazz musicians called Out There.   Anthony Braxton plays dozens of instruments, and is a prolific composer who has released over 100 albums over the course of his career.  This episode focuses mostly on his early work, but touches on some of his later work as well. Questions? Comments? Requests? email [email protected] or call the show's voicemail box at (424) 704 1666

WNPM returns with an episode about the Modern Jazz Quartet.   This episode features songs from various points throughout the career of one of the longest lasting small groups in jazz history.  Enjoy!   Questions? Comments? Requests? Email [email protected]

This week's episode is a brief introduction to the Modern Jazz Quartet, who will be the topic of a full episode next week.  Enjoy!

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is back after hiatus with an episode celebrating the music of Art Blakey, in honor of the 100 year anniversary of his birth last Friday.  Blakey is best known as the leader of the Jazz Messengers, a group that launched the careers of dozens of young jazz musicians, including Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, and many many more.  This episode features music from the Messengers, as well as a few tracks from Blakey's drumming with Thelonious Monk.  Playlist here Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail [email protected]

This week's episode is about the music of Bud Powell, one of the most influential pianists in jazz history.  His short career, like his life, was tumultuous, but he is cited as an inspiration by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and virtually every jazz pianist who followed him. 

I was slammed with work and some other things this week, and so did not have time to put together the episode I intended to share with you, about the music of Bud Powell.  The full episode about Powell will be next week, but I thought I'd share one of my favorite Powell tunes with you in the meantime.  Enjoy!

Apropos of the news that broke in the New York Times a couple weeks ago about a devastating fire that destroyed an astonishing number of master tapes in the Universal Music Group's vaults, I thought it was a good time to do an episode about the music put out by one of my favorite record labels, Impulse! Records, one of the labels whose master tapes were apparently destroyed in the fire.  

This week's episode is about Horace Silver, a pianist who was instrumental in developing the hard bop idiom of jazz. Silver composed a handful of tunes that, given his gift for melody and rhythmic experimentation, became jazz standards. Playlist here Questions? Comments? Requests? Call the WNPM Voicemail at (424) 704-1666 or email [email protected]

This week's episode is about the music of Tadd Dameron, the premier writer/arranger of the early bebop era.  It features music that Dameron recorded with his own and in other groups, and versions of songs that he composed performed by Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, and more. Playlist here Questions? Comments? Requests? Call the WNPM voicemail at (424)704-1666 or email [email protected]